It is amazing that David has done all he has and then thinks he has gotten away with it. Just when things seem calm God sends Nathan to confront David about his sin. Well, just like you usually does God uses our own pride and judgment to teach a lesson. Nathan tells David about a rich man who has many sheep and a poor man who has only one.
The rich man has guests show up so he needs to have a banquet. He takes the poor man’s one lonely lamb and feeds his guests. What a jack-wagon. Nathan tells the story and David is mad and ready to pass judgment on the rich man. David says he must pay back four times what he took and then his life must be taken. A little extreme for just a lamb, but David is a shepherd at heart.
Nathan points at David and utters some words that will change David’s heart and future. He simply says to David: “You are the one!” You have taken a man’s wife, even though you’ve got two already and all the concubines a man could wish for in his life. David is crushed when he realizes that he has been exposed as a killer.
His son is born and then dies. He is trying to figure out what is next for him. Can it ever be like it was? Then he pens a Psalm about his sin. In fact he labels it and sends it to the musicians so that Israel can sing it when they gather. It is recorded in Psalm 51. He repents and asks for forgiveness from God for the sins he committed. The telling verses are found towards the end of the prayer. ”
15 Lord, let me speak so I may praise you. 16 You are not pleased by sacrifices, or I would give them. You don’t want burnt offerings. 17 The sacrifice God wants is a broken spirit. God, you will not reject a heart that is broken and sorry for sin. Psalm 51:15-17 (NCV)
David realizes that the first step back from blowing your life up is to admit what you’ve done. It will be a process that will take most of his life, but in the end David will come back strong. In the New Testament David is referred to someone after God’s own heart. Even though David’s sin will echo throughout the rest of his life and beyond. He will pay four fold for the life he took, but God spared him from death.
Weird thing is that David and Bathsheba have another son and he is chosen by God to be the next king after David. The first step back of repentance can redeem our lives so that we honor God and he creates what is next in our lives. Remember, no matter how bad we blow up our lives God can redeem even our worst moments into something Good.
In light of how David’s first step back to God how would answer these questions: What do I need to confess to God right now? Am I willing to let God turn my sin into a blessing for others?